Functional and Structural Convergence of Temperate Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems

Abstract

We analyzed the similarity of structural and functional characteristics of temperate grassland and shrubland ecosystems of North and South America. We based our analyses on correlative models that describe the climatic controls of grassland and shrubland structure and functioning at regional scales. We evaluated models that describe the regional distribution of plant functional types (C3 and C4 grasses and shrubs), soil organic carbon (SOC), and aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and its seasonality. To evaluate the predictive power of the models, we compared their estimates against observed data. We derived data sets, independent from those used to generate the models in North America, from climatically similar areas in South America. Our results support the notion that, in climatically similar regions, structural and functional attributes such as plant functional type composition, SOC, ANPP, and ANPP seasonality have similar environmental controls, independent of the evolutionary history of the regions. The study suggests the existence of an important degree of convergence at regional scales in both functional and structural attributes. It also points out differences in the regional patterns of some attributes that require further analyses.

Variations in the foliar δ13C and C3/C4 species richness in the Japanese flora of Poaceae among climates and habitat types under human activity

“…In North and South America where mean annual precipitation varies from $100 to $1500 mm/ year, precipitation and its seasonal distribution are important for C 3 and C 4 distributions (Paruelo and Lauenroth 1996;Paruelo et al 1998;Murphy and Bowman 2007). However, in the humid climate in Japan (Table 1), water availability may not be a decisive factor in the geographical distribution of grasses, and thus, it may not be a primary factor affecting the proportion of C 3 and C 4 grasses, as suggested from the study on the Kirigamine grasslands in Japan .…”

Sensitivity of subtropical forest and savanna productivity to climate variability in South America, Uruguay

“…ANPP of South American grasslands is highly correlated with MAP at broad regional scales (Paruelo et al. , ), but at finer spatial scales in humid regions the relationship between MAP and vegetation productivity is less strong (Fabricante et al. ; Guido et al.…”

“…) and the greater Pampean province (Paruelo et al. , ), but with minimal focus on native forest cover classes or combining native forests with other land‐cover types such as non‐native forest plantations (Texeira et al. ).…”

Vegetation Structure Constrains Primary Production Response to Water Availability in the Patagonian Steppe

“…ANPP increases linearly along spatial precipitation gradients from deserts to steppes and grasslands in North America, South America, and Africa (Webb et al 1978, Lauenroth 1979, Sala et al 1988, McNaughton et al 1993, Paruelo et al 1998). ANPP increases linearly along spatial precipitation gradients from deserts to steppes and grasslands in North America, South America, and Africa (Webb et al 1978, Lauenroth 1979, Sala et al 1988, McNaughton et al 1993, Paruelo et al 1998).…”